Slice
In tennis, a slice is a shot hit with backspin by swinging high-to-low through the ball, producing a low, skidding bounce. (This differs from a golf slice, which is a curving mishit.)
A tennis slice keeps the ball low and changes the pace, useful for approach shots, defensive returns, and disrupting a baseliner’s rhythm. It is produced by an open racquet face moving high-to-low, imparting backspin. "Slice" is a true cross-sport homonym: in golf it is an unwanted left-to-right curve, in tennis it is a deliberate backspin stroke — so they are separate glossary entries.
Example
A player slices a backhand approach so it skids low, forcing the opponent to hit up and giving time to move to the net.
Across sports
- Tennis
- A deliberate backspin stroke (high-to-low).
- Golf
- An unwanted left-to-right curving ball flight.
Related terms
- TopspinTopspin is forward spin imparted by brushing up the back of the ball. It makes the ball dip down into the court and kick up high after the bounce.
- SliceA slice is a shot that curves sharply away from the target — to the right for a right-handed golfer. It happens when the clubface is open relative to the swing path at impact.
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